EN, FR, PR: South Africa, Angola get big wins on day two in Harare
South Africa defeated double defending champions Zambia 4-0 in their opening match in Group B at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Harare on Friday, while last year’s beaten finalists Angola thumped Botswana by the same scoreline in Group C.
It was a day full of goals as 18 were scored across four matches in the Zimbabwean capital, with an excellent turnout from fans at both venues to take in the action. Tickets remain FREE of charge for the group stages.
South Africa, who enjoyed the support of Zimbabwean fans, came out strong against Zambia at the Ngoni Mwos Stadium, scoring three goals in the first half while the fourth through an own goal in the second half.
They opened the scoring in just the second minute when Omphemetse Sekgoto found the net with a fine strike. The pressure kept building, and in the 26th minute Mpho Molepo calmly slotted home a penalty to double the lead.
Ten minutes later, South Africa scored their third goal, leaving champions, Zambia, with a mountain to climb.
The Zambian defence couldn’t match the game’s pace, and their attackers failed to make an impact. In their confusion, they gave away an own goal to South Africa, scored by captain Emmanuel Mbuti.
Malawi also started brightly, managing a 3-1 win over Madagascar in their Group B opener.
They took control of the game in the first half with two goals as Joel Maziya put them ahead in the 14th minute with a long-range effort that flew past the goalkeeper.
Eleven minutes later, James Lumbe made it 2-0 with another powerful strike from outside the box, giving Malawi a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.
William Rambeloson came close to reducing the deficit but failed to convert a good opportunity. That miss proved costly, as Malawi were gifted a goal to make it 3-0 as goalkeeper Irintsoa Rakotoharimalala deflected a cross into his own net.
Madagascar’s William Rambeloson did manage to score a late penalty, but it was only a consolation for Madagascar.
Angola made a powerful start to their Group C campaign with a commanding 5-0 win over Botswana at the Hearts Stadium.
Costantino Chianica opened the scoring in the 16th minute, before Pedro Antonio doubled the lead just before halftime. Antonio struck again in the 64th minute to complete his brace, while Jairo Muanha added a fourth three minutes earlier as Angola’s dominance grew.
Manuel Morais rounded off the victory with a late strike in the 89th minute. Botswana struggled to cope with Angola’s pace and precision throughout, failing to register a response.
Lesotho edged Mauritius 3-2 in an entertaining encounter that was the opener in Group C. Lechesa Makhupane gave Lesotho an early lead in the 8th minute, but Mauritius responded through Paw Kee in the 15th to level.
Morena Masithela restored Lesotho’s advantage on 24 minutes, and Fisane Leanya extended the cushion to 3-1 before halftime with a strike in the 41st. Mauritius fought back after the break, with Nicholas Fani converting a 59th-minute penalty, but could not find an equaliser.
The tournament enters a decisive stage on Saturday with two Group A fixtures at Ngoni Mwos Stadium that could shape the race for the semifinals.
Mozambique meet Comoros in the early kick-off (12h00 local time; 10h00 GMT), with both sides having started strongly to collect three points apiece. Mozambique edged hosts Zimbabwe 1-0 in a tight contest, while Comoros impressed with a commanding 3-0 victory over Eswatini.
With only the group winners assured of advancing, this clash has the feel of a decider for top spot, and a win for either team would place them on the brink of the knockout phase.
Later in the day, Zimbabwe face Eswatini (15h00 local time; 13h00 GMT) in a battle of teams desperate to revive their campaigns. The hosts were frustrated in front of goal in their opening defeat and know that nothing less than victory will keep their hopes alive in front of their home support.
Eswatini also find themselves under pressure after being outplayed by Comoros and will need a major turnaround if they are to remain in contention.
All games will be streamed live on FIFA+, and you can follow the action from this dedicated tournament page.
TOTALENERGIES CAF UNDER-17 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2026 | COSAFA QUALIFIER STATISTICS
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Group B – Ngoni Mwos Stadium
Madagascar 1 (Rambeloson 90’pen) Malawi 3 (Maziya 15′, Lumbe 26′, Rakotoharimalala 70’og)
Zambia 0 South Africa 4 (Sekgoto 2′, Molepo 27’pen, Mhlongo 37′, Mbuti 75og)
Group C – Hearts Stadium
Mauritius 2 (Kee 15’, Fani 59’pen) Lesotho 3 (Makhupane 8’, Masithela 24’, Leanya 41’)
Angola 5 (Chianica 16’, Antonio 45’, 64’, Muanha 61’, Morais 89’) Botswana 0
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES
Group A – Ngoni Mwos Stadium
Mozambique vs Comoros (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Zimbabwe vs Eswatini (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Comoros | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Mozambique | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Eswatini | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Malawi | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Madagascar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| Zambia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Angola | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Lesotho | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Mauritius | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| Botswana | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 6
Goals scored: 22
Biggest victory: Angola 5 Botswana 0 (Group C, September 12)
Most goals in a game: 5 – Mauritius 2 Lesotho 3 (Group C, September 12); Angola 5 Botswana 0 (Group C, September 12)
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Pedro Antonio (Angola)
1 – Fasifdine Ahamada (Comoros), Mathis Ali (Comoros), Nicholas Fani (Mauritius), Costantino Chianica (Angola), Paw Kee (Mauritius), Fisane Leanya (Lesotho), James Lumbe (Malawi), Lechesa Makhupane (Lesotho), Morena Masithela (Lesotho), Joel Maziya (Malawi), Thandanani Mhlongo (South Africa), Fahad Mohamed (Comoros), Mpho Molepo (South Africa), Manuel Morais (Angola), Jairo Muanha (Angola), Chauson Nhabanga (Mozambique), William Rambeloson (Madagascar), Omphemetse Sekgoto (South Africa)
Own goals – Emmanuel Mbuti (Zambia), Irintsoa Rakotoharimalala (Madagascar)
Angola arrasa Botswana e África do Sul bate Zâmbia na estreia
O arranque da Qualificação da COSAFA para a Taça das Nações Africanas Sub-17 da TotalEnergies 2026 ficou marcado pela entrada demolidora de Angola, que venceu o Botswana por expressivos 5-0, esta sexta-feira, no Hearts Stadium, em Harare. Uma exibição convincente dos Palanquinhas, que assumem desde já a candidatura à liderança do Grupo C, com Pedro António em destaque ao bisar numa noite de inspiração ofensiva.
Ainda no Grupo C, o Lesotho levou a melhor sobre as Maurícias por 3-2, num duelo equilibrado e emocionante, decidido pelos golos de Lechesa Makhupane, Morena Masithela e Fisane Leanya. Com estes resultados, angolanos e basotho dividem a liderança da série, deixando mauricianos e botswaneses em desvantagem.
Já no Grupo B, disputado no Ngoni Mwos Stadium, o Malawi bateu Madagáscar por 3-1, com Joel Maziya a abrir caminho e James Lumbe a fechar as contas. Pelo meio, Irintsoa marcou na própria baliza, enquanto William Rambeloson assinou o tento de honra dos malgaxes. A seguir, a África do Sul mostrou poder e eficácia ao golear a Zâmbia por 4-0, com Omphemetse Sekgoto e Mpho Mokpo em evidência. Os sul-africanos lideram agora a par dos malawianos.
O regulamento da prova dita que cada grupo será jogado em sistema de todos contra todos até 16 de setembro. Seguem para as meias-finais os vencedores dos três grupos e o melhor segundo classificado. No dia 18, o líder do Grupo B enfrentará o vencedor do Grupo C (12h00, Ngoni), enquanto o primeiro do Grupo A encontrará o melhor segundo (15h00, Ngoni). A final está marcada para 20 de setembro, às 14h00, também no Ngoni Stadium, precedida pelo jogo de atribuição do 3.º lugar, às 11h00.
Amanhã, sábado, entram em cena os jogos do Grupo A: Moçambique defronta as Comores às 12h00 e, logo depois, o Zimbabwe mede forças com o Eswatini às 15h00, ambos no Ngoni Mwos Stadium. Comores e Moçambique já somaram três pontos na estreia e procuram consolidar a liderança, enquanto Zimbabwe e Eswatini jogam sob pressão, obrigados a vencer.
Com a goleada de Angola a dar o tom da jornada, a Qualificação da COSAFA Sub-17 começa a ganhar contornos emocionantes. Entre candidatos afirmados e equipas que ainda procuram espaço, desenha-se um torneio equilibrado, repleto de talento jovem e que promete manter a chama acesa até ao último apito.
Carton de l’Angola
La TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier 2026 se déroule actuellement au Zimbabwe, et la compétition a déjà offert des moments palpitants. Vendredi, les matchs du Groupe B ont révélé des confrontations intenses. Madagascar a ouvert le score contre le Malawi grâce à un but de Rambeloson à la 10e minute. Cependant, le Malawi a rapidement réagi, avec Maziya et Lumbe inscrivant deux buts en l’espace de cinq minutes, suivis d’un but contre son camp d’Irintsoa, portant le score à 3-1 en faveur des Malawites.
Dans l’autre match du Groupe B, l’Afrique du Sud a démontré une domination sans partage en s’imposant 4-0 face à la Zambie. Les Bafana Bafana ont fait parler la poudre avec des réalisations de Sekgoto, Mokpo, Mhlongo, et un but contre son camp de Mbuti, marquant ainsi une entrée réussie dans la compétition.
Le Groupe C a également vu des affrontements captivants. Maurice, malgré une bonne prestation, a été battu 3-2 par le Lesotho, qui a réussi à prendre le dessus grâce à des buts de Makhupane, Masithela et Leanya. D’autre part, l’Angola a triomphé 2-0 contre le Botswana, avec des réalisations de Chianica et Antonio, qui a brillé en inscrivant un doublé.
Pour ce samedi, le programme prévoit des matchs du Groupe A au Ngoni Mwos Stadium, avec Mozambique face aux Comores à 12h, suivi du duel entre le Zimbabwe et Eswatini à 15h. Les classements montrent déjà une hiérarchie se dessiner, avec les Comores et l’Afrique du Sud en tête de leurs groupes respectifs, affichant chacun une victoire impressionnante et un goal average favorable. L’Angola et le Lesotho, quant à eux, font également forte impression dans le Groupe C.
Cette compétition promet de livrer encore de belles surprises et des rebondissements, alors que les équipes se battent pour une place dans les phases finales de la Coupe d’Afrique. Les jeunes talents présents sur le terrain souhaitent se faire remarquer et laisser leur empreinte dans l’histoire du football africain.